Trans cyclist Emily Bridges has told ITV News that she's all but given up on elite sport after British Cycling banned her from competing in women's events. The decision last year crushed her hopes of representing Great Britain at this summer's Paris Olympics. The athlete says the ban stops women from competing as women - and that's wrong for her and all other trans competitors. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 There's been a lot of political pressure from anti-trans activists to ban us from sport.
00:06 It reinforces the belief that trans women aren't women and that they're a threat.
00:17 For me, obviously I have a past in cycling so I have previous results, people know me.
00:23 But for another trans woman who hasn't competed in the past, she's trans
00:29 but she is seen by the world as a cis woman.
00:32 How is it fair to ask her to out herself and compete in open category?
00:38 That's not fair and it's just not safe either.
00:42 If we were allowed to compete, if I was allowed to compete, it would be a different conversation.
00:46 I'd be having to weigh up if it was safe for me to compete,
00:52 if it was the right thing for me to do at this part of my life.
00:55 But I can't compete.
00:57 Yeah, fairness is important and I understand how important it is to have
01:06 the conversations around eligibility guidelines and certain medical requirements.